The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-08

pointed, for one OF the bent, clawfoofed
bars for pulling out spikes would have
been worth much more, but they had
none. The bar taken was the only one Of
their tools that seemed likely to be of
value, or more would have been borrowed
by force, If not otherwise.
As we went on Andrews cautioned his
engineers not to run TOO fast, which they
inclined to do; all of as would have
relished more speed in this first part Of
the journey. But running on all south
ern roads in war times was slow; our
train was not scheduled at over sixteen
miles an hour. The road itself was ex-
ceedingly crooked, with abundance OF
short curves, and, having bat light iron
rails, was untitled for high speed. We
were anxious to get past the local freight
that we might test the roads capabilities
Those on the engine were very much
amused, as We ran by station after sta
ton, to see the passengers come up with
their sachels in their hands, and then
shrink back In dismay as we sped past
without sign of hating. But when by
we would stop and cut the telegraph wire,
SO that no suspicious or inquiries could
be sent ahead.
Thus we passed through Ackworth and
Allatoona, and then stopping again to cut
the wire, also endeavored to lift a rail.
While we were sure that no train from
Big Shanty could follow us, we wished
also to make it difficult for one from At
lanta, If any should be sent from there, to
run rapidly; and what was Of equal i'm
portance, we did not wish the local freight
to proceed southwark after we met it, TO
be turned hack by any pursuers. A lifted
rail is almost sure to throw an unsuspect-
ing train from the track; and we put such
an obstruction before each train that we
met on this journey. Yet the process OF
taking up a rail, though we made much
Of it, was far from easy with the imper-
feet tools we possessed. A single tool-a
bar constructed expressly for drawing out
spikes-would have enabled US to bafle all
pursuit. But this we did not have, and
more than five minutes were consumed
for each rail taken up, in battering out
some spikes with CUR iron bar and after
ward prying the remainder loose with
handspikes and with the rail itself. This
delay was of no great importance now,
for we had superiority of time; but In
the quick and terrible struggle further up
the road, when seconds were decisive, It
was far otherwise. The rails when lifted
were carried away with us, and the break
thus left was for a time barrier to a
train not supplied with track laying tools
as absolute as burnt bridge. The feel
ing of security after such obstruction was
very delightful and not unwarranted. In
no case did pursuing train pass place
where we had torn up rail in time to do
US any damage.
There was an exultant sense of superb
Ority while running along in the midst OF
our enemies in this manner, such as q
man in q balloon might feel while drift
ing over hostile camps, or o. ar the raging
waves of the ocean. AS long as all is well
with his balloon the man need not care
what takes place in the world below; and
as long as our engine retained its power
and the track WAS clear before us, we
were in q similar state Of security. But